Circular-knitting machine.



F.. WILGOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEG.13,1Q13. 1,1 29,261, Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

*1 SKEETS-SHEET l.

F. WILGOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mo. 13, 1913.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 24 F. WILCOMB. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1325 .13. 191s.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. WILO0MB.'- momma KNITTING momma.

APPLICATION FILED BBQ. 18, 19 13. 1,129,261. r Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

(SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FRANK WILCQE'ZB, OF NGBRESTDW 1, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNDR T 3 HEMFHIL EI; MANU- FACTUEING GOMPAQXY, 9F GENERAL FALLS, Ii-IZDDE E LANB. A CORFQEJQTZQN RHODE ISLAND.

CIRCUL$R-KNITTIIJG I'Y iACHINE- Application tiled Eecemnei" 13, 1313. Serial Es. 356.5%.

To all whom it may-concern Be it known that I, FRANK WiLcoaie, citizen of the UnitedStetes, residing at Norristou'ii, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular- Knitting lilaohines, of which thefollowiug is a specification. I 1

My invention concerns more particularly the yarn feed mechanism and the control- 1mg COIlllBCulDIlS thereior, by which the eminafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying draw lugs: figure 1 is a front lieu of a machine embodying my invention; Fl 2 is a side View looking from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a detail plan View of the lifters for the yarn iingorsi Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine; F l is a detail sectional View of the latch ring in its relation to the knitting head and showing the yarn lingers and connections; Fig. 5 is a plan YlBW of the yarn "feed finger oiganization; Fig. 5 is a front View of the mouth pieee of Fig. 5. and in this ilGW all the yarn fingers are represented for convenience-in their lowered position. in runiiingthe machinefiiowevei. it Will be understood that the yarn fingers ooileetirelr Would not assume this position and armild do so only when the latch ring, in which they are supported. is raised; Figs. (v and 7 are views of a plating plate; T is a View of a modified form of plating device. Figs. 8. 9 and 10 are views of details; Figs. l1, l2 and 13 are views of the connection hetr-ieen the levers and their ouei'atii 5 Wires or links. Fig. 14 is a riew of a detail:

The yarn feed lingers marked 1 to 3 are of substantially the same form as those used on the Banner machine built under Letters Fatent oi the United States granted to llemphill. September '7, 1 09, but my Yarn linger organization as a Whole, in eluding their munlier. ariangemi' ut. mounting and their operating connections, is a development of and mi improvement upon the Banner machine designed to ire increased '1 q 7 l I efiiciency, Wider scope of variations in yarn 4 number of feeding, and to enable the maliine to handled with greater facility readily assembled, repaired, or dismantled. In the l-lemphill machine as shown in ll 5 and 27 of the patent, referred to. a yarn feeding opening or mouth piece used through which the yarns are delivered to the needles from yarn lingerswhich'oocup the mouth piece from Wall to Well. This is a desirable form of feeding means for machines ofthe Heniph T is mouth piece or opening is 50* and its width is'necessarily restricted to co"- tain narrow limits for various reasons. one being that if a; Wider mouth piece were used the cams for operating the needles would. hate to be situated at a eonsidei'alele dis tance apart. and on reci; i'ocatiiig knitting the reoiprocatious of the machine would he so long; that production would hegreatly reduced from that which has now become standard. l urtlier, the Wider separation of the cams for the needles was necessitate such change in the location of the picks that onev set would interfere with enoths'.

ii' aim the delivery of the yarn to the nee dles by a wide mouth piece can not Well be controlled when plating is being done, or heel and toe knitting is being performed. A narrow yarn delivery mouth piece has been found in practice to be necessary. ll'l'iere. however, a narrow mouth piece is vomhined'with ":1 feed fingers, as in the l-lemphill pat-e the number of yarn fingers thatrcan be employed is very limited. Three are shown in the patent. These completely" fill the mouth piece from wall to v need m .the latch ring C 01' the Hemphil *atent.

One object of my invention is so provide in connection with a mouth piece as narrow as thstoi the l'lernphill maeliirze larger yarn fingers. individually of normal width or size adapted to receive the or dinsry diameter of yarn guide hole.

In carrying out my inrezition as to the yarn fingers. the linger 5 for the heel and toe yarn is arranged in the center of the mouth piece C or approximately so, this being on the radial center of the machine. therefore, heel and toe pockets arehleiug formed, the yarn is fed hythe finger to either one corner or'the other of thenmouth piece in precisely the some manner, as in common practice. This may be the only yarn finger O1 carrier which handles yarn during reciprocating knitting as for heels and toes. into or out of engagement with the needles while the machine is turning in the direction for round and round knitting, going from left to right or reverse of clockwise in the arrow direction, Fig. 5, and l have found that by making certain improvements an indefinite number of additional yarn feedplished in various. Ways, in the particulareonstruction shown, they are mounted in an enlarged chamber 7 in rear of the mouth piece, said chamber lying partly in rear of the front wall 8 which defines one side of the mouth piece. This front wall lying to one side of the feed mouth Cis surmounted by a guard portion 9 which inclines downwardly and toward the center of the mouth piece, so that any yarn striking thereon when either of the yarn fingers, such as l, 2, 3 or4,is lowered, will be directed into the feed mouth to be delivered thereby to the needles. When any yarn finger is lowered, as for instance, #5, Figs. 3, 5 and 5, the yarn therefrom will be delivered through the mouth piece opening to the needles, the yarn running against one of the shoulders 10 according to the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder. The mouth piece has inclined edges 11 for opening the latches of inoperative elevated needles, and a latch guard 12 to prevent the closing of the latches of those needles which are knitting.

as in common practice, by a clamp device 13, Fig. 5, within the needle circle. The construction of this clamp may be of any desired form. The one shown is similarfito that well known as used in the Banner machine, and therefore needs no particular description. Only so much of it is shown as to indicate its general function and position. It will be observed, Fig. 5, that the inoperati e yarns extend from the yarn fingers to this clamp at an angle, the incline being in the direction of rotation of the cylinder-in round and round knitting, and as above stated, itis only during round knitting that the yarns from the off center yarn fingers 1 to 4 are brought into use. It will be seen by this arrangement that when either of the off center yarn fingers, z'. 6., those lying to the right of the radial center of the ma- All the fingers throw the yarn.

chine, is lowered tothrow its thread into work, the inclined relation of this yarn will cause it. to fall into the narrow mouth piece,

this effect being insured by the inclined' The incline of the yarn just mentioned from the yarn finger to the needles is in the direction of rotation of the needle circle The narrow yarn feed mouth and the means for guiding the yarns thereto from a series of yarn fingers of such number or arrangement as to preclude the locationof them all in line with the mouth pie'ce may he variously organized, but in the application of this part of my invention to the Banner machine I prefer the arrangement described 85. above. In this yarn finger organization I I have also associated a plating or yarn separating plate or finger A shown indetail in Figs. 6 and 7 and shown in place among the yarn fingers in Figs. 3, l, 5 and 5. This is 9 -arranged adjacent the yarn finger :l: which has the two guide'eyes for the main and plating yarns. This plating plate has a bar '14 and a slot 15, both inclined downwardly and outwardly in relation to the center of the machine. The main and plating yarns are fed through the sparate holes in yarn finger 4 and one off these yarns passes through the openingin the plating plate and'the other passes around the front side of the bar 14, these threads being indicated at w and y in dotted lines in Fig. 6 in the out of work position, 2'. 6., elevated above the needles which are raised to take' the yarn.

The lowered position of the yarns is in.- 3

dieated in full lines at at and y. These yarns, when in this loweredtposition, are I in work and after leaving the plating plate they meet at the lower-corner- 10 of the mouth piece where the needles e ngage'them The yarns which are out of work are held,

for knitting. The purpose of this plating plate or finger is to widely separate the main and plating yarns and prevent one yarn from matting with or attaching itself to the other as they pass side ky side'to the 5 point where they are taken by the needles for knitting, thus insuring that the yarns provided on the plating plate {extending down into an opening in the ledge 'or base.

of the mouth piece, so that the yarn, when lowered into work, will rest against the front inclined edge of the bar near the top sur- "wheel he einafter referred to.

face oi tLe ledge 12. The incline oitlie slot and the front bar is proyicleol to conform raising and lowering movement.

place, which guides and separates the plating aml'tlie incline of the slot- .ilZMl the front guiding bar of me plaie zipnroxiinstes ilie in which the end of the with its yarns, swings. l (allows the yarn to be .;l llteil freely from one 7 position to the lliis plating plate is reduced at its l rcm'eml to prevent the yarn from being p11 icliecl between it anal the adjacent yarn in raising and lowering.

e N am lingers normally under tenof spring elements tending a press the-1o clowmrznrclly, and they are raised by connev'i ions positively operated from a cam The spring elements consist of levers 16 pivoted 1 ring C. The spring levers engage shmzhlers on the hubs of the yarn fingers ncl zn'renr of their PilYOlCS and press o ownwarclly must r Ehese yam carrying describe as are of considee length in moving the yarns into or m of were As it desirable to employ short sir'ligs one; preventdesclening them, I urmnge the parts so that only a small of the spring levers will be needed 1 lon ermovemeni at the yarn in; end or the yarn fingers. For this 11., ll e point of engagement between the lingers and the spring levers is as near pin-oi of theyarn fingers as is possible. Ilbe seen from that very lite-1e merit, will. we imparted i0 she spring l anal their springs by the lifting of l e yarn liegers, and thus undue compresof springs will be livoidecl- The of the yarn fingers are provided 'itli or lugs 20 for the spring levers so l'isg fi'lld above lliesetlie hubs have concentric with the pivots. Therewhen it :lesire i so thread an yarn sec. n; can be thrown upward and backstill fzll'lillQl from the raised or inoperion shown in Fig. s, so that the lie renal ily introduced cltirougli the i or no additional coliigression of will result in this action and the In bearing collie concentric ilof the finger, will serve to frictional restraint in she avllic a it l'uiS been li'lOVGfl. iiblagzz yarn lingers and mien on clie latch ring A? the same general form n rear of the pivot 18 of the yarn finl and 5. These levers are pressed o sgring plungers l9 seated m ills, zlfidllifilEfOl press the Yarn ends or. the "are fingers nor-- as is commonly useail i. ;l1e l-lempliill construction. This leach ing is pivot-ally mounted at 21 a1; llll rear of the machine, the ring having an arm 21 lying between the bifurcated end 01 she standard 22. T his constructions; to permit the latch V ring with the yarn. lingers mounted thereon to be swung up and back :0 expose the needle circle for toe trsiisi' er of tops or or other purposes.

To hold. the ring iii i Working position, a self locking LlE I c is ployccl pivoted to standard 22 which supporizs part oi. the yarn finger operating eonneciions as will be presently described. This CiltflllS pressed by a spring 22 mount- QCl lH a rec ss in the post. The catch a relic. sir-sped point vfhicl, as the is lowered into working position, will rifle against the surface 2% oil she resulting in the pressing heel: of the catch until the lee: position of the latch ring .is reacherl, when the catch will spring" forward and retainthe latch ring down. The low or working position of she latch ri is determined by a screw steel 2% tlie'reozi coining against slie too of cl e'breckelor sianelarcl and lowere this sled is adjustable to eccuretely locate the letcli. 'llhe can; shaped point of she catch enables it is 'aeeommocleie itself to (lifierent adjustments of the all-Ell ring. The catch has a fi oger piece by job it may be iresseilimclcior releasing the latch ring.

The yarn lingers may be elevated by varioiis forms of devices Ki'ii-liiii the scope of my invention, but in else particular form shown a series of vertically. sliding lifters are employed in tlieiorm of plates 25, which are guided in a lS-OZk-lllistructure '26 at the top of the smnrlarcl The number of lifter plates is equal to the number OE? yarn fingers \Yll'lCl: are to he raised out of and lowered into Work.- and these lifters are spaeecl apart and guided by plzfees 27, one of which is shown in Fig. 2 and bOlZll of which are. shown in section in Fig. 4. These plates are channeled on choir inne1'-3t"aces to receive 12in projecting laterally from a post and removably mounted on said post to enable the levers to be dismal lecl. The encls of the levers are of course. err-angel stepwise to correspond with the, eclielon er-i ran it of the projections the levers bein of (lifl erent lengths as show: in Fig. 3. lleierririg to filiis Fig. and to. Fig. 2, l c e ago of the meoliie is the right or" q which represents a front view of the machine. The Banner machine of the Hemphill construction has the cam shaft .9 at the front lower part of the machine, this shaft having cams mounted thereon which control the operation of the yarn fingers and other parts of themachine such as'the means for changing from round to reciprocating knitting, including inclines or projections on a" within easy reach for hisattention, and arereadily accessible to the fixer should occasion arise to repair or adjust the parts.

In carrying out my invention wherein I am able to secure the employment of a larger number of yarn fingers than heretofore employed in machines of the type referred to, I have aimed to preserve the general desirable characteristics of the existing machine and to agreater degree secure accessibility to the operating connections than has been possible heretofore, and to do this without changing the framework of the Hemphill machine or the general arrangement of its parts. In the Hemphill machine the yarn fingers are operated by levers f mounted within a box or standard K, see the patent mentioned, and operating wires or rods lead from these levers down through the box and through the top plate to the interior of the frame of the machine to connect with cam operated levers 7. The wires are connected to the yarn finger operating levers by hookson the wires engaging the said levers, andbecause of this and the inaccessibility of these parts it has been diiiicult to assemble or to disengage the parts which must at times be done. 1n my construction the vertically movable lifters '25 for the yarn fingers-are interposed between the yarn fingers and their operating levers 30, but are not connected to either, simply resting by gravity in their guide ways of the boxing 26, and bearing upon theends of the levers 30. By lifting the latch ring and thus removing the yarn finger. organization from over the boxing 26, the lifters 25 may be dropped into position or exposed for removal by raising.

them. The operating levers are not inclosed, but as previously stated they are. pivoted in exposed position on the pin 31 mounted in a post- 32. They extend at right angles to the yarn finger organizatio and lifters 25, and to the front of the mac inc, and their forward ends are connected by links or wires 7" to the cam operated levers f. A pair of these levers 30 with their connections are arranged at the right of the post 32', and their links extend to levers 7' operated by cam pieces on the cam drum 7. The other levers 30, four in number in this case, are operated from cam pieces on a drum f" which is arranged outside the usual frame work of the l-leinphill machine, bein located on the shaft 8. The wires or links for operating these levers are arranged entirely outside the frame and extend down the front side thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and connect at their lower ends with the levers i which are operated by the cam pieces on the cam drum. The levers 30 are operated in one direction by the springs 30", that is, these springs ldwei; the levers whenthe cam drum presents a low part tothe cam lever f In order to make a connection between the wires or links f and the levers which will be free qflOIIl lost motion and will therefore serve to transmit the movement with accuracy and at the same time provide for the ready assemblage of the levers and linksor their dismantling and without requiring skilled operators, I have devised the hook and pin connection shown in Figs. 11 and 12. I

The levers 30 have bifurcated ends with pins 33 fixed rigidly therein by riveting, soldering or in any suitable way to make them'a permanent part of the levers. -The links or wires'have heads 34: notched to receive the pins, the notches extending at right angles or laterally to the axis of the wires. These heads have their ends formed on an arc struck from the center of the pins 33 and 'the distance from the center of the pin to the wall 35 at the bottom of the fork or bifurcation of the lever 30 being equal to the radius of the are on which the end of thehead is struck, it will be seen that when the lever and. its wire are in working relation, 7?. 6., approximately at right angles to each other, Figs. 2 and 11,.the link will be locked in engagement with the pin and held firmly seated in connection therewith,

because the wall of the fork forms a backing or hearing for the link head and there will be no lost motion or play between these parts.

In order to assemble them or separate them from each other, the levers and links are moved into alinement,-as shown in Fig. l2, so that by a lateral movement of one in relation to the other they may be separated or assembled. When in working relation there is no possibility of the levers and links becoming disconnected. To dismantle the lever and link organization, the pivot pin 31 must be removed. The same kind of connection exists between the lower ends of the wires or links ft. and the cam levers f aiseries' of yarn fingers located in part in rear ofsaid guard and in part in line with the mouth piece, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a stocking knitting maching having a rotary and reciprocating needlecylinder, a latch ring having a thread feed mouth, a yarn finger for feeding the' yarn for the heel and toe located substantially radially of the needle cylinder, and aseries of yarn fingers arranged off the radial centerof the mac'hifie and on the side of the heel and toe yarn finger opposite the direction of continuous rotation of the cylinder and to one side of the feed mouth, and means for guiding theyarns from the series of yarn fingers to the mouth, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a stocking knitting machine having a rotary and reciprocating needle cylinder, a latch ring having a thread feed mouth, a yarn finger for feeding the yarn for the heel and toe located substantially radially of the needle cylinder, and a series of yarn fingers arranged oif the radial center of the machine and on the'side of the heel and toe yarn finger opposite the direction of continuous rotation of the cylinder and to one side of the feed mouth, and means for guiding the yarns from the series of yarn fingers to the mouth, said means consisting of a guard inclining downwardly toward the mouth, substantially as described.

8. In combination in a stocking knitting machine, a cylinder having rotary and reciprocating movements, a latch ring having a narrow yarn feed mouth with downwardly and outwardly diverging latch guards, and with a chamber in rear of said feedmouth enlarged in the direction opposite the direction of continuous knitting,a yarn finger for the heel and toe yarn arranged substantially on-the radial center of the machine,

\ and a series of yarn fingers arranged in the laterally enlarged chamber with means for directing the yarns to the feed mouth from said yarn fingers. substantially as described.

9. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary cylinder, swinging yarn feeding means, a plating guide for maintaining in fixed relation the main and plating yarns in knitting and in their travel into and out, of feeding position, said guide having an inclined slot for one yarn and an inclined front bar for the other yarn, said incline conforming to the are in which the feeding means swings.

10. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, yarn feeding means including a plating yarn finger movably mounted to throw the main and plating yarns into and out of work, a single feed mouth for guiding all the yarns from the fehding device to theneedles, and guide meal is fixed at the mouth piece for maintaining separate the main lifters slidably mounted machine, a needle cylinder, pivoted yarn J0 fingers, spring pressed levers bearing on .shoulders on the hubs of the yarnfingers to move them down into work, and means for raising the yarn fingers out of work,

said yarn fingers having bearing surfaces concentric with their pivots adjacent their shoulders and upon V which the spring pressed levers bear when the yarn fingers are raised to neutral position for threading,

substantially as described.

12. In combination in a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a latch ring, a series of ,yarn fingers pivotally mounted on the latch ring, a series of members bearing on the yarn fingers, compression springs for operating the said members, said spring being compressed as the yarn fingers rise, and means for operating the yarn levers in o position to the spring pressed levers, su stantially as described.

13. In combination in a ,ci"rcular.knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn -fingers arranged as a group .ap-

proximately radially of the cylinder, a se-' ries of pivoted levers of different lengths for operating the yarn fingers and swinging in vertical planes at an angle to the vertical' planes of movement of the yarn fine gers, said levers having their forward ends reaching substantially to the front of the machine, a post upon which said levers are pivoted in exposed position, a'c'am shaft at the front of the machine, cam means thereon, cam levers operated thereby, and links extending from the forward ends of the said pivoted levers downwardly, and connected with the cam levers, substantially as described.

14:. In combination in a'knitting machine, a needle cylinder, pivoted yarn fingers, op-

eratinglevers of different lengths extending substantially horizontally and swinging vertical planes at right angles to the vertical planes in which the yarn fingers swing, said levers being pivotally mounted intermediate of their length, sliding lifters between the inner ends of said horizontal levers and the yarn fingers, a pattern drum,-

scribed. I

15. In eombination'in a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a latch ring pivotally mounted, yarn fingers pivotally mounted on the latch ring, operating levegs of different length extending in a direction transversely of and below the yarn fingers, fixed guide means interposed between the operating levers and the yarn fingers, and in the guide means and resting upon the ends of the operating levers, said lifters being removable vertically, and being exposed for removal by lifting the latch ring, substantially as de: scribed.

1 5,151 combination in a circular knitting, machine, needle cylinder, yarn fingers,

pivctally mounted, operating levers extending transversely of the planes in which the yarn fingers swing, lifter plates v interposed between. the operating levers and the yarn fingers, guide means for the lifter plates, said lifter plates engaging the yarn fingers, and having depending projections arrange. in echelon and resting upon the op-- erating levers, and'means for operating the levers, substantially as described.

17. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a latch ring vertically movable, a post with means for detachably connecting said latch ring to the post, yarn fingerslpivotallymounted in the latch ring, levers extending horizontally and below the latch ring, lifters between said levers and the yarn fingers, guide means on the post for said horizontal levers and for the lifters and means for operating'the.

horizontal levers, substantially as described.

18. In combination in-a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, pivotally mounted yarn fingers, operating levers for the yarn fingers extending transversely of the yarn lingers, a post upon which the operating lovers are pivotally mounted in exposed position, links connected with the operating levers, pattern means foroperating the -links, said links having laterally notched heads and the said operating levers-having forked ends with rigid pins located in the lateral notches, the heads of said, links havotally mounted detachably, a plurality of links for operating the levers, said links having laterally notched heads engaging,

the pins rigidly fixed in" the forked ends of the operating levers, said links and levers being detachable by moving them into a position at right angles to their working positions, the levers and links being arranged outside of the frame of the machine, substantially as described.

v 20. In combination, a needle cylinder" having rotary movement, a series of yarn fingers outside the needle row, a narrow feed mouth piece having inclined latch, opening Walls diverging from each other downwardly, the group of fingers being arranged ofi to one side of one of the inclined 'walls of the mouth piece in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the machine in round knitting and a girl de to direct the yarn to the mouth piece.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v FRANK WlLCOE/BL' Witnesses:

A. J. DonoHUn, H. J. Genre. 

